4g 6 SURGICAL DISEASES. 



difficulty in producing the foetus, recourse should be had to the 

 ergot of rye, which should be given every hour or half-hour, 

 according to circumstances. If after a certain time some, al- 

 though little, progress has been made, the ergot must be con- 

 tinued in smaller doses, or perhaps suspended for a while ; but, 

 if all progress is evidently suspended, recourse must be had to 

 the hook or the forceps. By gentle but continued manipulation 

 much may be done, especially when the muzzle of the puppy 

 can be brought into the passage. As little force as possible 

 must be used, and especially the foetus little broken. Many 

 a valuable animal is- destroyed by the undue application of 

 force. 



" If the animal seems to be losing strength, a small quantity of 

 laudanum and ether may be administered. ' The patience of 

 bitches in labour is extreme,' says Mr. Blaine ; ' and their distress, 

 if not removed, is most striking and affecting. Their look is at 

 such time particularly expressive and apparently imploring.' 

 When the pupping is protracted, and the young ones are evidently 

 dead, the mother may be saved, if none of the puppies have been 

 broken. In process of time the different puppies may, one after 

 another, be extracted ; but when violence has been used at the 

 commencement, or almost at any part of the process, death will 

 assuredly follow. 



" June 15,18 32. — A spaniel bitch was brought to my infirmary 

 to-day who has been in great and constant pain since yesterday, 

 making repeated but fruitless efforts to expel her puppies. She is 

 in a very plethoric habit of body ; her bowels are much confined, 

 and she exhibits some general symptoms of febrile derangement, 

 arising, doubtless, from her protracted labour. This is her first 

 litter. Upon examination no young could be distinctly felt. 



